Support Sun Peaks Horses
Donation protected
UPDATE APRIL 12, 2022
It's time for another update!
Another year has come and gone. This one no easier than the last.
Things were looking up after the snow melted and we started to get ready for our summer operations. Inquiries and bookings were coming in, we started operations slow and steady. Then we were hit with a very unprecedented heat wave. We spent the week making sure the horses were hydrated and giving them cold mist showers. Most of the horses did very well through the heat wave, Kitty our very senior Percheron mare had the hardest time but did well with soupy alfalfa cube mashes. Obviously we had to close during this time, even early morning rides would have been too hot for the horses. With the extreme heat came some very impressive thunder storms, unfortunately with them came the lightning which started many fires throughout the southern interior. One of which was on Embleton Mountain near Sun Peaks Resort. With Sun Peaks on evacuation alert we decided it was best to move our horses to a safer location. We only have a 3 horse trailer and if Sun Peaks went on evacuation order we might become separated from our horses in a dangerous situation. The lovely folks down at Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds graciously put us up for 2 weeks while we waited for it to be safe to return home. 11 horses, 4 dogs and 2 humans! We can't thank them enough.
Once we returned home we were faced with a quieter than normal summer, people were discouraged to travel to the interior and the smoke was very thick at times. It was very hard to operate with the unpredictable weather, we had to cancel many days because of either strong winds or heavy smoke. Then the rains came. Washing out the only routes from the lower mainland to the interior, cutting us off from the travelers who have been our main source of income during the pandemic. This forced people to cancel their plans for Christmas, the sleigh ride cancellations came flooding in. To top off our usually busy Christmas season we were hit with a cold snap. The horses didn't seem to mind but I learnt very quickly that I can not drive a team when its -25c or below. Also it doesn't matter how many warm layers you have on even under warm blankets, going for a sleigh ride when it is this cold is not very fun. So more cancellations. We rely so heavily on the Christmas season to make the money that we need to care for the horses for the year. The rest of the winter was quiet and we didn't get much snow.
That brings us to now. The good news is after being homeless for just over a year we found a rental, one where we can live with the dogs and it also has room for some of the horses. All of the horses are here now enjoying a vacation while we wait for the snow to melt and gear up for our summer operations. We will post some pictures on our Facebook page soon so you can see them enjoying their time off.
It is very hard to ask for donations when so many people have lost so much to fires, floods, covid and not to mention what the people of Ukraine are going through. We still need help with the day to day expenses of feeding and caring for the horses. But we also need help with paying our hay supplier and our vet bills. Both Berta and Henry will need vet visits soon. Henry will need to be gelded and Berta needs to have a growth removed from her eyelid if its even possible.
Robert is currently attending TRU in the welding foundations program to further expand his career. I will be working as much as I can at my other job to help with expenses.
UPDATE MAY 4, 2021
Time for an update!
Wow, what a year it has been! First of all we would like to acknowledge the support we've received from the community and beyond. Thank you to everyone who has visited our stables, gone for a ride, contributed to our gofundme and directly, purchased gift certificates, donated feed for the horses and us humans, the encouragement and everything else that has helped us and the horses get through this last year. It's been a tough one.
This last year has seen many ups and downs. It has been mentally and physically exhausting. We were able to safely offer our experiences this last summer and winter, but at a very reduced capacity. We are down 60%. We welcomed the births of two foals, Bonnie and Henry this past June (they are growing like weeds!) and they bring us much joy everyday with their antics. We were very sad to say goodbye to two of our horses Sam and Tootabelle, both who left us far to soon and have left a pretty big hole in our hearts. They are deeply missed by us and their horse friends.
Now we find ourselves in the slow season, eagerly awaiting the snow to melt and the spring grass to come up and the start of our summer operations.
We still need your help. Your donation helps us take care of our horses during this time. During the pandemic we have been operating on a much smaller scale. We are unable to offer our large group tours and are only able to offer smaller private tours. Travel restrictions have hit us hard as well. We had numerous cancellations from guests who were unable to travel to our region.
Where will your money go?
Feed
The most important thing is quality feed for the horses. Their main diet is hay and tons(literally) of it! Some of our horses are seniors or have other health restrictions that require a special diet. Our seniors require soaked alfalfa timothy cubes and special grain for seniors. Berta has some dietary restrictions and can only eat soaked cubes, she eats 44lbs of cubes a day! Feeding our herd costs almost $100 a day.
Regular hoof care
The horses have their feet trimmed or shod every 6 weeks. Berta's shoes cost around $250!
Veterinary care
The horses receive regular vet care throughout the year, vaccinations, dental and regular check ups. Our amazing vets at KLAVC are also on call for emergency care.
Stable maintenance
This is an ongoing cost. Fencing, shelter, footing and bedding are things that are needed on an ongoing basis. Our tractor needs regular maintenance as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Campaign Below
Thank you for visiting our Go Fund Me page.
The horses of Sun Peaks Stables don't know about Covid-19. They go about their normal routines, enjoying the increasing warmth of the sun and little nibbles of emerging grasses. A few of them sense, perhaps, the unusual quiet of the last number of weeks in a normally bustling resort. They are thankfully free of the worries about what the coming seasons in tourism will hold for us and when we may see our fellow Canadian, our American, European and other international friends again.
Sun Peaks Stables, like many businesses, has been heavily impacted by the pandemic crisis. The business has been closed since Sun Peaks Resort's closure in mid-March and remains so until cleared to open by relevant authorities.
It is likely that our core business, our Sleigh Rides in Winter and Horseback Trail Riding and Lessons from May to October will be impacted for the foreseeable future, with inter-provincial and international travel being discouraged or restricted from some time to come. The costs of feeding and keeping the herd continue of course. Unfortunately, our small business like many others has not met the qualifications for the Canada Emergency Business Account loan guaranteed by federal government.
Many in our community have expressed concern for the horses and ensuring their care. We have been heartened by the support we have received privately and many have encouraged us to start this campaign. We appreciate your time in coming to this page and considering our request.
Our campaign is not only to ensure the health and upkeep of our herd of working horses, but also to ask you to help us lay the foundation for the future of operation, one that you will hopefully come and visit!
Our goal is to establish a "Storefront" Stables operation as a destination for people to visit and have a variety of experiences with working horses and the activities that support them. We want to invite people in to see and experience our whole operation, how we train and prepare our horses for work, where they live, what they eat and how and why we do what we do!
We will use the funds in a few ways:
1) Our first priority is for the immediate needs of the horses, feed, farrier and veterinary care, etc. One of our sleigh horses was recently sick and in the veterinary clinic in Kamloops for almost a week and there is a substantial bill that we need to address. We have two foals to be born in June and need to keep our vet account current should they be called upon to assist with the mother mares.
2) The second use for funds will be to do some improvements and mitigation to the stables location, to make it more suitable and presentable for public visitation and also to mitigate issues such as seasonal mud and flooding in various areas of the barnyard. Some machinery will need to be hired to dig out clogged drainage ditches or level certain areas and the like. We will likely require quantities of gravel and other materials to help in these efforts also.
3) Our third main use for funds will be for a new and safe horse trailer and a number of movable steel fence panels. A horse trailer is required both for emergencies and also as a part of our plan, going forward, to be able to provide off-site services for weddings and events as part of a mix of revenues to support our core operation. The trailer will also serve as important marketing for us and as a potential revenue source with ad space for local business.
Steel fence panels are invaluable to our plans for several reasons. They are mobile and securely contain horses. This will allow us to take best advantage of areas that may be available for grazing in and around the resort, while ensuring the horses are as safe and secure as possible. Steel panels allow a large amount of flexibility in how horse pens are located and organized. Having enough fence panels available for temporary corral of the herd is also be important should we have to move to an unknown location due to wildfire or other circumstances.
4) An additional way we will use the funds is for the establishment of an internet connection to the stables, which is currently not serviced. This mainly for security purposes, as we do not reside at the stables location, but will also be used to provide content and videos to our social media presence.
We sincerely believe that the community and the resort will benefit from the continued presence of this business and from more opportunities to experience the horses and the stables operation. Over the years we've heard from locals and guests alike that the horses and the sleigh and wagon add charm, life and magic to our village. We hope that we can continue to make a meaningful contribution to this resort community as we continue to build a business to thrive in the “new normal” for all of us.
As a thank you to everyone who supports us, all contributors to our campaign will receive an invitation to experience a Private VIP Stable Tour for their family. Tours will commence after sufficient lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and within appropriate public-health and WorkSafe BC guidelines.
We thank you once again for taking the time to visit and read our campaign details. We will be adding more content to this page and our social media feeds, including introductions to our herd and more!
Sincerely,
Robert Taylor and Rebecca Spray
Sun Peaks Stables
It's time for another update!
Another year has come and gone. This one no easier than the last.
Things were looking up after the snow melted and we started to get ready for our summer operations. Inquiries and bookings were coming in, we started operations slow and steady. Then we were hit with a very unprecedented heat wave. We spent the week making sure the horses were hydrated and giving them cold mist showers. Most of the horses did very well through the heat wave, Kitty our very senior Percheron mare had the hardest time but did well with soupy alfalfa cube mashes. Obviously we had to close during this time, even early morning rides would have been too hot for the horses. With the extreme heat came some very impressive thunder storms, unfortunately with them came the lightning which started many fires throughout the southern interior. One of which was on Embleton Mountain near Sun Peaks Resort. With Sun Peaks on evacuation alert we decided it was best to move our horses to a safer location. We only have a 3 horse trailer and if Sun Peaks went on evacuation order we might become separated from our horses in a dangerous situation. The lovely folks down at Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds graciously put us up for 2 weeks while we waited for it to be safe to return home. 11 horses, 4 dogs and 2 humans! We can't thank them enough.
Once we returned home we were faced with a quieter than normal summer, people were discouraged to travel to the interior and the smoke was very thick at times. It was very hard to operate with the unpredictable weather, we had to cancel many days because of either strong winds or heavy smoke. Then the rains came. Washing out the only routes from the lower mainland to the interior, cutting us off from the travelers who have been our main source of income during the pandemic. This forced people to cancel their plans for Christmas, the sleigh ride cancellations came flooding in. To top off our usually busy Christmas season we were hit with a cold snap. The horses didn't seem to mind but I learnt very quickly that I can not drive a team when its -25c or below. Also it doesn't matter how many warm layers you have on even under warm blankets, going for a sleigh ride when it is this cold is not very fun. So more cancellations. We rely so heavily on the Christmas season to make the money that we need to care for the horses for the year. The rest of the winter was quiet and we didn't get much snow.
That brings us to now. The good news is after being homeless for just over a year we found a rental, one where we can live with the dogs and it also has room for some of the horses. All of the horses are here now enjoying a vacation while we wait for the snow to melt and gear up for our summer operations. We will post some pictures on our Facebook page soon so you can see them enjoying their time off.
It is very hard to ask for donations when so many people have lost so much to fires, floods, covid and not to mention what the people of Ukraine are going through. We still need help with the day to day expenses of feeding and caring for the horses. But we also need help with paying our hay supplier and our vet bills. Both Berta and Henry will need vet visits soon. Henry will need to be gelded and Berta needs to have a growth removed from her eyelid if its even possible.
Robert is currently attending TRU in the welding foundations program to further expand his career. I will be working as much as I can at my other job to help with expenses.
UPDATE MAY 4, 2021
Time for an update!
Wow, what a year it has been! First of all we would like to acknowledge the support we've received from the community and beyond. Thank you to everyone who has visited our stables, gone for a ride, contributed to our gofundme and directly, purchased gift certificates, donated feed for the horses and us humans, the encouragement and everything else that has helped us and the horses get through this last year. It's been a tough one.
This last year has seen many ups and downs. It has been mentally and physically exhausting. We were able to safely offer our experiences this last summer and winter, but at a very reduced capacity. We are down 60%. We welcomed the births of two foals, Bonnie and Henry this past June (they are growing like weeds!) and they bring us much joy everyday with their antics. We were very sad to say goodbye to two of our horses Sam and Tootabelle, both who left us far to soon and have left a pretty big hole in our hearts. They are deeply missed by us and their horse friends.
Now we find ourselves in the slow season, eagerly awaiting the snow to melt and the spring grass to come up and the start of our summer operations.
We still need your help. Your donation helps us take care of our horses during this time. During the pandemic we have been operating on a much smaller scale. We are unable to offer our large group tours and are only able to offer smaller private tours. Travel restrictions have hit us hard as well. We had numerous cancellations from guests who were unable to travel to our region.
Where will your money go?
Feed
The most important thing is quality feed for the horses. Their main diet is hay and tons(literally) of it! Some of our horses are seniors or have other health restrictions that require a special diet. Our seniors require soaked alfalfa timothy cubes and special grain for seniors. Berta has some dietary restrictions and can only eat soaked cubes, she eats 44lbs of cubes a day! Feeding our herd costs almost $100 a day.
Regular hoof care
The horses have their feet trimmed or shod every 6 weeks. Berta's shoes cost around $250!
Veterinary care
The horses receive regular vet care throughout the year, vaccinations, dental and regular check ups. Our amazing vets at KLAVC are also on call for emergency care.
Stable maintenance
This is an ongoing cost. Fencing, shelter, footing and bedding are things that are needed on an ongoing basis. Our tractor needs regular maintenance as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Campaign Below
Thank you for visiting our Go Fund Me page.
The horses of Sun Peaks Stables don't know about Covid-19. They go about their normal routines, enjoying the increasing warmth of the sun and little nibbles of emerging grasses. A few of them sense, perhaps, the unusual quiet of the last number of weeks in a normally bustling resort. They are thankfully free of the worries about what the coming seasons in tourism will hold for us and when we may see our fellow Canadian, our American, European and other international friends again.
Sun Peaks Stables, like many businesses, has been heavily impacted by the pandemic crisis. The business has been closed since Sun Peaks Resort's closure in mid-March and remains so until cleared to open by relevant authorities.
It is likely that our core business, our Sleigh Rides in Winter and Horseback Trail Riding and Lessons from May to October will be impacted for the foreseeable future, with inter-provincial and international travel being discouraged or restricted from some time to come. The costs of feeding and keeping the herd continue of course. Unfortunately, our small business like many others has not met the qualifications for the Canada Emergency Business Account loan guaranteed by federal government.
Many in our community have expressed concern for the horses and ensuring their care. We have been heartened by the support we have received privately and many have encouraged us to start this campaign. We appreciate your time in coming to this page and considering our request.
Our campaign is not only to ensure the health and upkeep of our herd of working horses, but also to ask you to help us lay the foundation for the future of operation, one that you will hopefully come and visit!
Our goal is to establish a "Storefront" Stables operation as a destination for people to visit and have a variety of experiences with working horses and the activities that support them. We want to invite people in to see and experience our whole operation, how we train and prepare our horses for work, where they live, what they eat and how and why we do what we do!
We will use the funds in a few ways:
1) Our first priority is for the immediate needs of the horses, feed, farrier and veterinary care, etc. One of our sleigh horses was recently sick and in the veterinary clinic in Kamloops for almost a week and there is a substantial bill that we need to address. We have two foals to be born in June and need to keep our vet account current should they be called upon to assist with the mother mares.
2) The second use for funds will be to do some improvements and mitigation to the stables location, to make it more suitable and presentable for public visitation and also to mitigate issues such as seasonal mud and flooding in various areas of the barnyard. Some machinery will need to be hired to dig out clogged drainage ditches or level certain areas and the like. We will likely require quantities of gravel and other materials to help in these efforts also.
3) Our third main use for funds will be for a new and safe horse trailer and a number of movable steel fence panels. A horse trailer is required both for emergencies and also as a part of our plan, going forward, to be able to provide off-site services for weddings and events as part of a mix of revenues to support our core operation. The trailer will also serve as important marketing for us and as a potential revenue source with ad space for local business.
Steel fence panels are invaluable to our plans for several reasons. They are mobile and securely contain horses. This will allow us to take best advantage of areas that may be available for grazing in and around the resort, while ensuring the horses are as safe and secure as possible. Steel panels allow a large amount of flexibility in how horse pens are located and organized. Having enough fence panels available for temporary corral of the herd is also be important should we have to move to an unknown location due to wildfire or other circumstances.
4) An additional way we will use the funds is for the establishment of an internet connection to the stables, which is currently not serviced. This mainly for security purposes, as we do not reside at the stables location, but will also be used to provide content and videos to our social media presence.
We sincerely believe that the community and the resort will benefit from the continued presence of this business and from more opportunities to experience the horses and the stables operation. Over the years we've heard from locals and guests alike that the horses and the sleigh and wagon add charm, life and magic to our village. We hope that we can continue to make a meaningful contribution to this resort community as we continue to build a business to thrive in the “new normal” for all of us.
As a thank you to everyone who supports us, all contributors to our campaign will receive an invitation to experience a Private VIP Stable Tour for their family. Tours will commence after sufficient lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and within appropriate public-health and WorkSafe BC guidelines.
We thank you once again for taking the time to visit and read our campaign details. We will be adding more content to this page and our social media feeds, including introductions to our herd and more!
Sincerely,
Robert Taylor and Rebecca Spray
Sun Peaks Stables
Fundraising team (2)
Robert Taylor
Organizer
Sun Peaks, BC
Rebecca Spray
Team member
